Premier League round-up

01 March 2009 12:39

Blackburn Rovers climbed out of the bottom three with victory over Hull City as Stoke hit back to snatch a point against Aston Villa.
Manchester City's away day blues continued as West Ham snapped their recent winless run with a 1-0 victory at Upton Park, while Bolton increased Newcastle's concerns.
Blackburn boosted their survival hopes and added to Hull City's growing concerns with a 2-1 success at the KC Stadium, where both teams finished the match with 10 men.
Rovers forged ahead with two goals in four minutes before the interval as Matt Duke's error allowed Roque Santa Cruz to set up Stephen Warnock, before the midfielder crossed for Keith Andrews to slot home in the 37th minute.
Phil Brown provoked anger from the home fans and Geovanni when he removed the Brazilian from the fray in the second half, before Dean Marney received a straight red card for kicking out at Morten Gamst Pedersen.
The Norwegian, who was booked for his part in the incident, was next down the tunnel for an early bath following a second booking for catching Kamil Zayatte.
Ian Ashbee pulled one back with 11 minutes to go when he hit the back of the net after a short corner had been clipped into the box by Bernard Mendy, but the home side could not fashion an equaliser.
Stoke staged a remarkable recovery as they hit back from 2-0 down at Aston Villa to snatch a point with two goals in the final three minutes.
Villa took the lead moments before the half-time whistle when James Milner cut across the Potters' box and found Stiliyan Petrov, who drilled home a powerful shot which flew beyond Thomas Sorensen.
And Petrov then played a part in substitute John Carew's superb second as he lifted the ball into the big striker on the edge of the box, and he lobbed replacement goalkeeper Steve Simonsen with a stunning first-time volley.
But the Potters refused to lie down and Ryan Shawcross gave them hope when he headed home James Beattie's cross three minutes from the end before substitute Glenn Whelan fired home from the edge of the area in time added on.
Bolton celebrated the news that manager Gary Megson had signed a new rolling contract with a 1-0 home victory over Newcastle.
Ricardo Gardner stepped off the bench at half-time to superbly sweep home Matt Taylor's cross just two minutes after entering the fray.
The Trotters have climbed to 10th in the table on the back of this success while the Magpies are now just two points above the drop zone.
Craig Bellamy endured a miserable return to former club West Ham with Manchester City slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Upton Park and the striker limping out of the action midway through the second period.
Jack Collison scored the only goal of the game in the 71st minute when he deftly lobbed home after City goalkeeper Shay Given could only parry Savio's curling shot from the edge of the box.
Hammers midfielder Valon Behrami suffered a worrying injury in the first period after catching his studs in the turf and was stretchered off in obvious pain with heavy strapping around his knee and ankle following lengthy treatment on the field.